Expression mechanism for mechanical piano-players.



PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1904.

Q g S g g 6 Pfl m m & J 6 7 g g m 4 E g g 7 & am 6\ g g 7 m 4 M g g g .m WV. k W m 0 am 7 5 7 M NU Nu mm mm 6 m m 4 .lliv'lNh B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANlA.

EXPRESSiON MECHANISM Specification of Letters Patent.

ASSUENOR TO COB'lPiiNY, OF PH ILA DELPHIA, PENNSYL Ni A. A

OF PENNSYLVAN lA.

FOR MECHANICAL PIANO PLAYERS.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed November 12', 1904- Serial Nor 232,444.

To all mimot if i'rtctg concern:

Be it known that I, Invmo B. SMiTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements in Expression Mechanism for Mechanical Piano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in expression nu-uihanisni for mechanical piano-players, and has for its object to provide simple and mutiny-operable means under the control of the performer for obtainin r varied musical tone effects at any point of the keyboard of the piano.

l am aware that devices have been heretofore proposed seeking to accomplish the end in view, but these devices are not altogether satisfactory, for the reason that the possible range of tone variation is not wide and varied enough and, furthermore, in many of the prior devices the change in the tone variation from one note to another or from one group of notes to another group is so marked or severe as to destroy the elfectiveness of the whole scheme.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide simple and readily-operable means under the control of the performer for variably and progressively changing the tone volume of the piano atrliiferent points of the keyboard either in the bass, middle, or treble in such manner that there will be no appreciable break at the point of change, but a perfect blending of the musical tones will be had.

My improvement is designed to be applied to the type of automatic players that are pushed up in front of the piano and which and are'adapted to actuate the piano-keys, and the specilic means for effecting the tone variations comprises a plurality of connected bar-sections, each having a resilient face arranged end to end and in the same plane, said bar-sections normally lying beneath and parallel with the line of striking-levers, with. means under the control of the performer for moving either one of the bar-sections or the two connected ends of adjacent sections toward or away from the line of strikinglevers on oblique or inclined lines to ofier a rave stiking lingers or levers that overhanggradually increasing or decreasing resistance to the action of said levers, whereby to cause the bass, middle, or treble keys of the piano to be struck with gradually-varying force.

In order to enable others to fully understand, make, and use my said invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being badto the accompany ing drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a piano-player in position for use, said player having my iHIPI'OVeITIQIltapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improvement and one form of operating means therefor. Fig. '3 is a view, partly in section, showing the normal position of the resistance means relative to the striking lingers or lovers, in which positions said fingers or levers will strike the piano-keys softly, giving pianissimo eil'ects throughout the length of the keyboard. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the resistance means when the treble notes are to be acoented and the bass notes subdued. Fig. 5 is a like view showing the position of the resistance means when the bass notes are to be accented and the treble notes subdued. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of two sections of the resistance means when both the bass and treble notes are to be accented and the middle notes subdued, and Fig. 7 is a like view showing the position of the resistance means when. the middle notes are to be accented and the bass and treble subdued.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumeral 1 designates the case of an ordinary well-known type of piano-player, having the striking levers or fingers 2, which overhang and are adapted to actuate the keys 3 of a piano. These striking-levers are actuated by any suitable means controlled by a perforated music-sheet, (not shown,) all as, well understood in the art.

My improved resistance device consists of a plurality of bar-sections, in the present instance two scctions e and 5 being shown, having on the upper edge thereof a resilient resistance or cushioning strip or tube 6, which may be of rubber, felt, or the like. These bar-sections are arranged end to end and situated below and parallel with and transversely of the line of striking-levers, the section 4 bethe ing pivotally connected at one end, as at 7, to the section 5, the said pivoted point when only two sections are employed being located about centrally of the range of striking-levers or centrally of the keyboard of the piano when the player is in position for use. en in normal position, the resilient resistance means 6 lies closely adjacent to and parallel with the under side of all the striking-levers 2 and is held ently to be described, so that when said lever's are actuated to strike the piano-keys the resistance means will absorb a part of the blow imparted to said levers or offer a partial resistance to the otherwise free movement thereof and cause the levers to strike the keys softly, so as to produce pianissimo effects.

It will of course be understood that a movement of the resistance means toward or away from the strikingdevers will permit said levers to strike the keys a blow the force of which will depend entirely upon the amount of resistance offered and that if said resistance means is moved in parallel lines toward and irom the striking-levers the force of the blow imparted to the piano-keys throughout the range thereof will be uniform, whereas if the resistance means be moved in oblique lines relatively to the'line of strik ng-levers an apertured bracket then the successive keys will be struck with a progressively increasing or decreasing blow, either in the bass, the treble, or the middle part of the keyboard, so that varied and pleasing musical expressions may be had.

It is the peculiar construction and, arrangement of the resilient resistance means and the manner of operating the same whereby to secure the aforesaid tone variations in the piano that constitutes the salient feature of the present invention, and I -will now describe one. construction of mechanism for actuating said means, it being understood that the showing here made is only by way of ex ample and that other mechanism might be equally well employed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Secured to and depending from the outer end of each bar-section 4 and 5 is a rod 8, and a similar rod '9 depends from the pivoted pin 7, that connects the adjacent ends of said bar-sections, and each of said depending rods is guidedin its vertical movements through 10, secured to the case 1 of the player. One of the depending rods 8 is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 12, fixed to a horizontal rock-shaft 13, said shaft having its bearing in two brackets 14, projecting toward and from the case 1. The opposite end of the shaft 13, which, it will be seen, terminates at a point about centrally, or nearly so, of the pivoted point 7 of the barsec'tions, has secured thereto a forwardly-expending lever 15, that projects through the case 1 of the player and has on its outer end a in this position by means preslower end directly key or which indicates that this lever controls the l treble keys of the piano. The other depending rod 8 is pivoted at its lower end to a similar arm 17 and rock-shaft 18, journaled in the brackets 19, and has a fol-wardly-extending lever 20, carrying a button 21, bearing the letter B, indicating the bass keys of the piano. The depending rod 9 is pivoted at its to a lever 2-2, which lever bracket 24. This lever 24 is located between the two other similar levers 15 and 20 and has on its outer end a button 25, bearing the letter M, indicating the middle keys of the piano. The three levers, it will be seen, are arranged close to- 1 gether and at the front of the player, so that is pivoted at 23 to a 1 they may be readily operated by the fingersof the performer. Sprin s 26 norm ally tend to force the levers upwar and with them the bar-sections 4 and 5, and this upward movement is limited by means of stop collars 27, l adjustably mounted by thumb-screws 28 on the depending rods 8 and 9, said collar being adapted to make contact with the brackets 10. It will be apparent that the position of the resilient tube or strip 6 relatively to the striking-levers 2 may be adjusted at will by simply setting the collars .27 to proper position on the rods, and, if desired, the said tube or stripmay be set and lield entirely away from the levers and out of operative position by properly setting the collars, in which case the levers would strike the piano-keys with a full blow.

The manner of operating the three levers to secure the various musical-tone variations may be briefly stated as follows, it being understood that the-resilient strip or tube when in normal position lies parallel with and close to the striking-levers, so that ordinarily the blow of the levers will be cushioned and the notes sounded pianissimo. If new the lever having the character B is depressed, the bar section 5 will be moved on an oblique line relatively to the line of striking-levers, as shown in Fig. 4, and the successive bass keys will be struck with gradually-varying force from the lowest bass key to the highest, while the treble keys willbeunafiected. Thus the bass notes willbeaccented, running regularly and gradually down to pianissimo. nowthelever having the character 'I is depressed, then in like manner will the treble keys of the piano be accented. If both levers having the characters B anr T be simultaneously depressed, then the bar-sections with the resistance strip or tube will be moved on oppositely-inclined or oblique lines relatively to the line of striking-lovers, as shown in Fig. 6, and in this case both the bass and treble keys will be accented and gradually subdued toward the middle keys. If the lever having the character M should be depressed, then the adjacent pivoted ends of button 16, bearing the letter T,

crescendo and subdue the accompanying arts, and, iii

to said striking-levers,

' sections can,

secured with the bar-sections would be moved in the asihich case the middle range of notes would be accented, While the leverseither toward the base or treble or the griddle of the keyboard for the purpose speciplayer, the combination with the striking-levers, of moirably-mounted barsections hating a yieldingiface arranged end to end and pivoted together, said barsections being; situated transversely with respect to said striking-levers, and means 4 whereby the said sections can, at the will of the performer, be caused to assume opposite oblique positions relatively to the plane of the striking-levers either toward the bass or treble or toward the middle of the keyboard for the purpose specified.

n apiano-player, the combination with the striking-levers, of movably-mounted barbe quite apparent that difierent combinations of the three levers will efiect different changes in tone volume and that a wide range of effects may thus be and in each and every change made a perfect blending of the tones will result. It is possic to so manipulate the levers as to accent a single note or group of notes, to give a diminuendo efi' eot,

wave a trill, to bring out the air or melodv fact, to secure substantially al the pleasing effects now obtained by the performer in manual play' g.

yielding face normally lying parallel therewith,

and means whereby. the said sections can, at

will of the performer, be moved in parallel or oblique lines toward and from and relatively to the striking-levers, for the purpose specified.

6. In a piano-player, the combination with the striking-levers, of a movably-rgiounted resilient resistance device situated transversely wit respect to said strikin -levers and nor lying parallel therewit h throughout the levers, and means whereby the said device can, at the will of the performer, be moved in parallel or oblique lines toward and from and relatively to the striking-levers for the purpose specified.

n a piano-player, the striking-levers, of a plurality of movablymounted and pivotally-connected bar-secobvious that other forms or constructions might be employed without de arting from the s irit of'the invention.- or instance, Ifrqiglit employ instead of the tube or stri 0 e t at claim, and desire to ters Patent, is

1 In apiano-player, the combination with operating the said bar-sections either independently or simultaneously for the purpose specified.

8. In a piano-player, the combination with the striking-levers, of aresistance device comprising a plurality of movable bar-sections arranged end to end and situated with the control of movin either or allof the bar-sections in parallel or oblique lines relatively to the plane of the striking-levers, for the means for locking the'said operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses,

IRVING B. SMITH. Witnessesi CHARLES BowMAN, GEO. Z. SUTTON purpose specified.

a piano-p ayer, the combination with the strikinglevers, of a movable resilient resistance device made in sections arranged end to end and situated transversely with res ect and means where y a section of the resistance device can at the" will of the performer be caused to' assume an oblique position relatively to the plane of the striking-levers either toward the bass or treble of the keyboard for the purpose specified. f I

-' -'2 In a ar-sections out of the strikingevers, of a movably-mountedreconnected sections arranged end' to end and at the will of the performer, be caused. to assume oppositely-oblique positions relatively to the plane of the striking the combination with purpose specified, and 

